My student needs to make the trek from Memphis to Denver is a few weeks, and we have no clue which would be the best route. The alternatives appear to be Memphis-Jonesboro-Kansas City, and then west on 70 to Denver . . . or Memphis to Little Rock, Tulsa, Wichita, and Salina, and then west on 70. I live over 1,000 miles away, so don’t know anything about either route. Any suggestions?
THe thread title sounds like the title of a country song. 
It might depend on when he/she would be driving. The first route goes through Kansas City, which you would want to avoid during rush hour. But there’s lots of great BBQ available in Kansas City, so it would make a good place to stop for a meal!
The second route goes through fewer large metropolitan areas. I think time wise either route will be about the same, although the first route has fewer miles.
I do know (because I’ve driven it) that Salina to Denver on I-70 will be very, very flat and boring, but unfortunately that will be part of either route.
I’ve also driven Wichita to Oklahoma City on I-35, and at times it has been incredibly windy. Encountered dust storms there too.
We have made that drive but go through Tulsa from Memphis because we had a place to stay there. It’s a horrible drive across eastern Colorado.
We’ve done the drive between the Memphis area and the Denver area many, many times. My preference is to take I-55 north to St. Louis, take 270 around St. Louis, and head west on I-70. The Kansas City area is approximately halfway; we usually stay overnight in that area. We’ve also done the route using I-40, then through Tulsa, Wichita, etc. I absolutely hate the stretch of I-40 through Arkansas–there are SO many big trucks through there. ( We drive on it frequently, as we have relatives in Arkansas.) Sometimes (even in April and May), weather is a factor, so we’ve occasionally even taken I-40 all the way to the panhandle of Texas, where you can cut through on small highways and get over to I-25 to head north. It would be pretty unusual to need to do that at this time of year.
@college_query - if Salina to Denver is flat and boring, I’m guessing that Kansas City to Salina to Denver would be even worse. So perhaps best to take the route through Wichita, and avoid that long drive on 70?
And I’ll tell him about the Kansas City BBQ, but unless there’s a place right off the highway, I’m guessing that would be a no go. Any suggestions for a place that’s handy?
@dodgersmom - Kansas City to Salina isn’t the same as Salina to Denver, even though it’s all on I-70. The eastern part of Kansas has hills, rivers, and the Flint Hills and is much more geographically interesting (to me). You drive through Lawrence (can see a bit of the University of Kansas campus from I-70) and Topeka (state capital), then you enter the Flint Hills. Starting around Salina and westward is nothing but flat and boring.
For BBQ, it would be pretty convenient to stop at the Legends Outlets. There’s an Arthur Bryant’s BBQ there (and a ton of other restaurant choices). From I-435 take the exit at Parallel Parkway West. Legends is on the Kansas side where I-435 and I-70 intersect.
Either way would be fine. It will be a little slow through MO or western AR, but scenic/somewhat hilly. I would take the Jonesboro-KC-Denver route–unless there is something you want to see in Little Rock or Tulsa to break up the trip. Is your kid trying to do this all in one day? KC would be about halfway. There is a cute little town called Hardy, AR, and shortly after that Mammoth Spring (MO) park right on US63 on the AR/MO border. Maybe good for a leg stretch. You would not have trouble with traffic in KC–just going through SW section of I435/outer ring. Traffic is not bad, but wise to avoid rush hour. There is a short stretch of toll road between KC and Topeka (KS Turnpike/I70). Not sure if your student is male or female, but if she was ever a fan of Little House books, the Laura Ingalls Home/Museum is right off US60 in Mansfield, MO.
Personally, I like Memphis BBQ better, but in KC, I like Joe’s. If I were passing through this way and really wanted to try it, would call in and get take-out from Joe’s KC in Olathe.
@shyparentalunit - The route through St. Louis is longer . . . is it really worth the extra distance just to avoid I-40?
I was actually thinking that maybe he could avoid I-70 (which everyone seems to hate) by just staying on I-40 all the way into New Mexico, and then just head north on I-25. But would that long stretch of I-40 (all the way from Little Rock through Amarillo) be even worse?
No matter what route he takes, this is starting to look like it won’t be much fun . . . 
Heck no! Leaving on a Friday morning with a planned arrival in Denver late Sunday afternoon.
I drove from Denver to Florida the I-70 way a year ao, and drove back the southern route, , mostly I-10, up through texas to I-25 north.
Take the I-70 route. If anything were to go wrong with the car, much more civilization on the northern route. Much safer route (flat roads) on I 70. Maybe it was the signs at the Texas rest stops that said ’ Beware or rattlesnakes’ (on the children’s playground!) that convinced me I’m a northern girl?
“Beware of Rattlesnakes”? Oh no . . . HELL NO!!!
And he’s a guy, so Laura Ingalls Museum is probably not on his “must do” list . . . but I appreciate everyone’s suggestions for BBQ!